Executive Business Partner

Whatnot faces RICO, illegal lottery allegations tied to sports card breaks. Livestream shopping platform Whatnot is facing allegations of operating an illegal gambling operation and violating the RICO Act by allowing sellers to conduct randomized box breaks and randomized repack breaks - sealed packages of collectible items - on its platform. Attorney Paul Lesko at Leskow Law, known for his commentary on sports card law, has filed 15 arbitration requests and represents 30 clients in claims against Whatnot, The New York Times reported. The filings argue that randomized box breaks breach California's laws prohibiting illegal lotteries (Whatnot is headquartered in California but incorporated in Delaware), while repack breaks function as unlawful "grab bag" lotteries for trading cards. "Whatnot knowingly operates an addictive platform without sufficient safeguards and controls. They are basically making money off of dopamine, rather than just selling cards. Our clients who have addiction issues and have tried to get off the platform. There aren't safeguards such as the ability for self-banning or meaningful spending limitations to the point that these are things that are required by online casinos but are not available on the Whatnot platform," Lesko said in a CllctMedia video posted on X. Lesko argues that Whatnot should have the same guardrails as online casinos in order to protect people from online gambling addictions. The plaintiffs are seeking legal recognition that these breaks constitute illegal gambling, along with restitution, compensatory and punitive damages, and court orders requiring Whatnot to add warnings, implement consumer protections like spending limits or self-exclusion tools, and halt randomized box and repack breaks. "We absolutely reject the characterization in this complaint," Whatnot said in a statement to The Athletic. "Gambling isn't allowed on Whatnot, and we strictly enforce this policy... Card breaks are a long-standing format in collecting - at card shops, conventions, and in communities that have thrived for generations. And while sellers who 'break' only make up 4 percent of sellers on our platform, we've taken care to bring that experience online in a way that holds everyone accountable. Whatnot shows happen live and on camera, sellers face real consequences when they break our rules. We've set the standard for how these formats work online, and we're committed to maintaining it." Lesko added that he has chosen to make the normally private arbitration process public due to the fact that Whatnot recently changed its arbitration agreement in March from paying for the arbitration process to splitting the fees with the consumer. "That is going to be a very big hindrance to certain people who have smaller claims. A $50,000 claim is not a small claim, but that will get eaten up in arbitration fees alone. Although I believe Whatnot's arbitration provision is unlawful and will be shot down, they did offer a 30-day opt-out period," Lesko said in the YouTube video. In 2025, Whatnot reported gross merchandise sales exceeding $8 billion, doubling its 2024 performance. The company stated that more than 20 million users created accounts in 2025 and one in eight sellers are now selling full-time on the platform. Sports cards remain the platform's top category, with over 6.4 million cards purchased each month. Whatnot did not respond to Benzinga's request for comment. Pelosi's Double Dipping on this AI Stock (169% Winner) Last year Nancy Pelosi bought one little-known AI stock right before it ripped 169% - in just over a month. Now, our D.C. Trade Tracker caught her fingerprints on the same stock AGAIN. Nancy's not a sentimental investor. When she goes back to the well, it's for a reason. Posted In:

Whatnot raises $225,000 million at $11.5B valuation: boom or bubble? The collectibles market has always thrived on frenzy - the adrenaline of a bidding war, the rush of a rare pull, the gamble that today's $10 card becomes tomorrow's $10,000 treasure. But Whatnot, the live shopping platform turning eBay meets Twitch into a $11.5 billion unicorn, is betting that the real jackpot isn't in the cards themselves - but in the spectacle of selling them. Fresh off a $225 million Series F funding round led by Alphabet's CapitalG, Whatnot's valuation now rivals legacy auction houses and meme stocks alike. Investors are all-in on its hybrid model: live-streamed auctions where influencers hawk Pokémon packs, Funko Pops, and sports cards to a Gen Z and millennial audience that spends more time scrolling TikTok than browsing eBay. But as the platform's valuation soars, so do the stakes. Is Whatnot pioneering the future of e-commerce - or fueling a speculative bubble primed to pop? The live shopping playbook: from niche to unicorn. Whatnot's rise mirrors the explosive growth of the "shout your bids" economy. Since its 2019 launch, the platform has capitalized on two seismic shifts: 1. The Pandemicaissance of Collectibles: Trading card sales tripled during COVID-19, with platforms like Whatnot and eBay riding the wave. 2. The TikTok-ification of Retail: 75% of Whatnot users are under 35, drawn to its interactive, personality-driven streams. The Series F cash injection will expand its reach beyond collectibles into luxury fashion and electronics. But here's the rub: Whatnot's cutthroat auction format thrives on scarcity and hype - the same forces that turned Pokémon cards into a speculative asset class. "We're building a community, not just a marketplace,"CEO Grant LaFontaine said in a recent interview. But when graded Charizards sell for $5,000 in a livestream chat, it's hard not to wonder: Is this community... or a casino? The speculative underbelly. Whatnot's success hinges on a precarious balance. Its top 1% of sellers - often influencers with six-figure followings - drive 40% of revenue, per internal data. These sellers aren't just moving product; they're curating FOMO, turning each stream into a high-stakes game show where viewers compete for clout as much as collectibles. The model works - until it doesn't. Remember Beanie Babies? The 1990s craze collapsed when buyers realized their "investments" were just stuffed animals. Today, the risk isn't plush toys but algorithmic dependency: Whatnot's growth is tethered to social media trends and the volatile collectibles market. If Gen Z pivots to AI-generated art or VR real estate, the bottom falls out. Investors double down - But can Whatnot scale safely? Whatnot's Series F investors aren't naive. They're betting on live shopping as the next trillion-dollar vertical. Chinese platforms like Taobao Live already generate $480 billion annually in GMV, proving the model's viability. But China's ecosystem is bolstered by seamless mobile payments and manufacturing clout. Whatnot, meanwhile, faces a fractured U.S. market and regulatory landmines, from sales tax disputes to counterfeit lawsuits. The platform's expansion into non-collectibles - like high-end streetwear and electronics - aims to diversify its revenue. But here, it collides with Amazon Live, Shopify's TikTok partnerships, and Instagram's shopping features. Can a startup outmuscle trillion-dollar rivals while keeping its niche appeal? The verdict: entertaining, but sustainable? Whatnot isn't just selling collectibles; it's selling a vibe. The dopamine hit of winning a bid. The camaraderie of a late-night rip party. The illusion that every purchase is an "investment." But vibes don't scale. For Whatnot to justify its $11.5B price tag, it must prove its model isn't just pandemic-era lightning in a bottle. Gain exclusive insights into the card industry's future. Explore Behind The Cards - its series uncovering the critical discussions and leadership debates reshaping the trading card world. From boardroom strategies to grassroots impacts, stay informed on the forces driving your hobby's evolution. Explore the Series | Knowledge is power. Stay ahead with stories that matter to every collector.

Whatnot raises $225 million to fuel global expansion. Live commerce platform Whatnot has raised $225 million in a new funding round, co-led by DST Global and CapitalG, the independent growth fund backed by Alphabet. The round also included participation from Sequoia Capital, Alkeon Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Greycroft, and BOND. It values the Los Angeles-based company at $11.5 billion, according to multiple reports. The fresh capital underscores investor confidence in Whatnot's rapid growth and the broader live-shopping category, which blends entertainment, community engagement and real-time purchasing. Founded in 2019 by Grant LaFontaine and Logan Head, Whatnot began as a live auction marketplace for collectibles such as trading cards and sneakers. It has since expanded into more than 140 categories across fashion, home goods, electronics and vintage items. How Whatnot will use its funding. In announcing the funding, LaFontaine said the investment signals how much live commerce has evolved over the past few years. "The conversation around live shopping has changed," LaFontaine said. "We're no longer asking if it will catch on. Whatnot is proving that live shopping is retail's new normal." "This funding represents both investor conviction and consumer confidence in our vision for the future of live commerce," he added. "With this capital, we will create more opportunities to help sellers build profitable businesses from their passions to delight buyers around the globe." Whatnot said it will use the funding to expand internationally, strengthen trust and safety systems, and roll out new tools that make selling simpler and more scalable. The company plans to invest heavily in marketing and partnerships to reach new buyers, aiming to raise both its audience and the visibility of its sellers. The Series F round follows Whatnot's $265 million Series E raise earlier this year, which valued the company at about $5 billion. That rapid increase in valuation highlights the surging investor appetite for live-commerce platforms, even as competitors like TikTok Shop, Amazon Live, and YouTube Shopping jockey for positions in the nascent Western market. Whatnot claims it has surpassed $6 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) so far this year and has become the No. 1 shopping app in Apple's App Store. Continued focus on seller tools, community interaction and real-time engagement has helped it carve out a strong niche in a fast-changing ecommerce landscape. As Whatnot scales, its success will depend on balancing growth with the authenticity that has fueled its rise - a challenge that will evaluate how far live, human-led commerce can go in reshaping how people shop.